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Objective: To determine whether acupotomy ameliorates immobilization-induced muscle contracture and fibrosis via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=6) by a random number table, including control, immobilization, passive stretching, acupotomy, and acupotomy 3 weeks (3-w) groups. The rat model of gastrocnemius contracture was established by immobilizing the right hind limb in plantar flexion for 4 weeks. Rats in the passive stretching group received passive stretching at gastrocnemius, a daily series of 10 repetitions for 30 s each at 30-s intervals for 10 consecutive days. Rats in the acupotomy and acupotomy 3-w groups received acupotomy once and combined with passive stretching at gastrocnemius a daily series of 10 repetitions for 30 s each at 30-s intervals for 10 consecutive days. Additionally, rats in the acupotomy 3-w group were allowed to walk freely for 3 weeks after 10-day therapy. After treatment, range of motion (ROM), gait analysis [i.e., paw area, stance/swing and maximum ratio of paw area to paw area duration (Max dA/dT)], gastrocnemius wet weight and the ratio of muscle wet weight to body weight (MWW/BW) were tested. Gastrocnemius morphometric and muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Fibrosis-related mRNA expressions (i.e., Wnt 1, β-catenin, axin-2, α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and types I and III collagen) were measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions. Wnt 1, β-catenin and fibronectin concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Types I and III collagen in the perimysium and endomysium were analyzed using immunofluorescence. Results: Compared with the control group, ROM, gait function, muscle weight, MWW/BW and CSA were significantly decreased in the immobilization group (all P<0.01), while protein levels of types I and III collagen, Wnt 1, β-catenin, fibronectin and mRNA levels of fibrosis-related genes were obviously increased (all P<0.01). Treatment with passive stretching or acupotomy restored ROM and gait function and increased muscle wet weight, MWW/BW and CSA (all P<0.05), while protein expression levels of Wnt 1, β-catenin, fibronectin, types I and III collagen and mRNA levels of fibrosis-related genes were remarkably declined compared with the immobilization group (all P<0.05). Compared with passive stretching group, ROM, gait function, MWW was remarkably restored (all P<0.05), and mRNA levels of fibrosis-related genes as well as protein expression levels of Wnt 1, β-catenin, fibronectin, types I and III collagen in the acupotomy group were obviously decreased (all P<0.05). Compared with the acupotomy group, ROM, paw area, Max dA/dT, and MWW were restored (all P<0.05), and mRNA levels of fibrosis-related genes along with protein levels of Wnt 1, β-catenin, fibronectin, types I and III collagen in the acupotomy 3-w group were decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Improvements in motor function, muscle contractures, and muscle fibrosis induced by acupotomy correlates with the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to explore the effects of dietary and behavior interventions on lipometabolism caused by an unhealthy high-fat diet and the best method to rebuild lipid homeostasis of this lifestyle. Apart from normal diet rats, 34 rats were fed with high-fat emulsion for 4 weeks and then intervened for another 4 weeks. Eight of them were classified into high-fat control group, and 9 were sorted into high-fat diet with rice vinegar group. Meanwhile, 10 were put into high-fat diet in swimming group, and 7 were just for refeeding normal diet group. Then, the data of body weight was recorded and analyzed. Indexes of serum samples were tested by kits. AMPKα, HNF1α, and CTRP6 in pancreas, liver, cardiac, and epididymis adipose tissues were detected by western blot. According to our experiments, swimming and refeeding groups reflected a better regulation on lipid homeostasis mainly by upregulating the expression of pancreas AMPKα. To be more specific, the refeeding rats showed lower T-CHO (P < 0.001) and LDL-C (P < 0.05), but higher weight gain (P < 0.001), insulin level (P < 0.01), and pancreas AMPKα (P < 0.01) than high-fat control rats. Compared with rats intervened by swimming or rice vinegar, they showed higher weight gain (P < 0.001), insulin level (P < 0.01), and HNF1α, but lower of CTRP6. In summary, refeeding diet functioned better in regulating the lipometabolic level after high-fat diet. Whatever approach mentioned above we adopted to intervene, the best policy to keep the balance of lipid homeostasis is to maintain a healthy diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies demonstrate that reactive aldehydes are highly toxic and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2)-mediated detoxification of reactive aldehydes is thought as an endogenous protective mechanism against reactive aldehydes-induced cell injury. This study aims to explore whether lipoic acid, a potential ALDH2 activator, is able to protect gastric mucosa from ethanol-induced injury through a mechanism involving clearance of reactive aldehydes. The rats received 60% of acidified ethanol through intragastric administration and held for 1 h to establish a mucosal injury model. Lipoic acid (10 or 30 mg/kg) or Alda-1 (a positive control, 10 mg/kg) was given 45 min before the ethanol treatment. The gastric tissues were collected for analysis of gastric ulcer index, cellular apoptosis, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, and ALDH2 activity. The results showed that acute administration of ethanol led to an increase in gastric ulcer index, cellular apoptosis, 4-HNE and MDA contents concomitant with a decrease in ALDH2 activity; these phenomena were reversed by lipoic acid or Alda-1. The gastric protection of lipoic acid was attenuated in the presence of ALDH2 inhibitor. Based on these observations, we conclude that lipoic acid exerts the beneficial effects on ethanol-induced injury through a mechanism involving, at least in part, ALDH2 activation. As a dietary supplement or a medicine already in some countries, lipoic acid can be used to treat the ethanol - induced gastric mucosal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solanum nigrum L. (SN) is a traditional Chinese medicine with anti-tumor effects, has been used in cancer for centuries, but the role on high-grade gliomas (HGG) is not clear. This work was to investigate the anti-tumor effects of SN extract on rat C6 glioma in vitro and in vivo , providing a new medium for the treatment of HGG. After identification and quality inspection of SN medicinal materials by HPLC-MS/MS and HPLC, CCK8 and colony formation assay were conducted to study the effects of SN on vitality and proliferation of C6 cells. Cell morphology was evaluated by HE staining, and flow cytometry was used for apoptosis analysis. The effects on cell migration and invasion were determined by transwell and wound healing assay. Western blot was used to further investigate the influence of SN on migration, invasion and apoptosis of tumor cells. In addition, the rat intracranial transplanted tumor model was used to evaluate the effects of SN on growth and infiltration of tumor and proliferation of transplanted tumor cells. SN extract suppressed the viability of C6 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The extract attenuated cell cloning, migration and invasion, and induced cell Annexin V+ PI+ late-stage apoptosis. Besides, SN induced the expression of apoptotic proteins including Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3, downregulated anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and decreased the level of migratory proteins MMP-2 and MMP-9. Moreover, SN reduced the growth and infiltration of C6 glioma tissue and suppressed the proliferation of tumor cells in rat brain. SN extract has significant inhibitory activity on the growth and invasion of C6 HGG in vivo and in vitro. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]